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Monday, March 22, 2010

Jour Du Macarons 2010

The best truck in the world is parked outside at 72 rue Bonaparte.It is 10 am on Saturday, March 20th in Paris and Jour du Macaron is about to begin!Your bear-in-the-street is here to report on this auspicious occasion. The line waiting forFREEmacarons is relatively short at 10 o'clock. Bear knows French people like to sleep in on weekends. Bear studies the list of 26 flavors! A man directly in front online mentions that...ahem...last year there were 36 (!) flavors of macarons to choose from. Bear keeps his trap shut.

Inside pandmonium reigns, only because of the anticipation and decision-making processes going on. The Pierre Herme staff are serene and impeccable as always.

Bear decides to follow the K.I.S.S. principle and choose 3 free macarons of just 1 flavor at each PH boutique. The Mogador (passion fruit + milk chocolate) is Bear's favorite.

He knows from past experiences what can happen to a little bag of precious macarons - tragedie strikes! He has brought along the Alice box to keep his macs safe and sound.On to the next one!More macarons svp.

At the Vaugirard Pierre Herme again the tension is palpable but the lines are shortish - it's just 10:30 am and Frenchies are still getting their zzzzzzs.

Outside the kids are tasting their free macarons.

Bear is saving his treasures for later.

At the rue Cambon PH, bear does a little fashion watching. He loves this tres fem ruffled skirt and the rossettes on the knee socks. French lines are the best.

Inside Cambon PH they only sell macarons. Bear chooses caramel - miam

Bear discovers to his dismay, that he must get a stamp on his mac card at each shop. And if he visits all 6 Pierre Herme shops and gives a donation bien sur to Alliance of Rare Diseasesand if there are sufficient macarons left at the final destination, he will WIN a free box of 36(!) Pierre Herme macarons! Why oh why did Bear not read the fine print in Fr. on his card? It's a macaron marathon and he is missing rubber stamps from the first 2 visits.

On to the next one. Bear attempts to go to Galerie Lafayette PH and gets lost in the twisty-turny Metro ending up more lost at Etoile.

Bear has to backtrack to the first 2 destinations and get the stamps on his mac card. Then he heads to last Pierre Herme desitination, Galeries Lafayette. It's 4 pm and the line is long. Bear is humming to himself. Doodly-do.

Some mac lovers are napping on line exhausted from waiting, but Bear stays fully wide-awake and praying the macs will not be finished by the time he gets to the counter.

VOILA! mon dieu Bear wins!

Bear goes for 1 of each of 25 flavors +. Bear can not believe his good fortune.

What's even more lovely is Pierre Herme's amazing generosity on this day. Not only is a charity remembered and given it's due, but the people of Paris get a chance to taste these fantastic cookies. There are many kids on line, who normally would not be able to buy such a deluxe dessert but Jour du Macaronis their chance to partake and enjoy.

53 comments:

Mean, mean ,mean !! I dont think I can read your blog anymore if you have one more macaron post ! Every time I read one of them , I crave & dare I say drool over them , trouble is I am in Qld Australia & I cant find any. If I saw bear on the street carrying his little Alice box filled with Passionfruit & choc macaroons I would be forced to do a snatch & run. He seemed so cute when he first appeared but now he has driven me to distraction ! Am I going to have to learn how to make the dreaded macaroon ?K x

I think you spend a delicious and magical macaron day with your So pretty little bear! You like macaron and me... Je les ADORE!!!! http://www.lecahierdejulie.com/2010/03/20-mars-le-jour-du-macaron-succombez-a-la-tentation/

Oh, I am so jealous that you got a formal class, I have been researching like crazy and taught myself.. I have even been selling them!!! However, I think my "feet"/pied stick out a smidge too far.Any suggestions?Can you believe how tedious they are? No wonder they are so expensive!

I have been following your blog for a while and I enjoy it very much. I think you are getting crazier by the minute! The good crazy, of course!I laugh a lot while reading your posts!Wish you have a great time while in Paris, can't wait to read more.Merci for all the good news you share with us.

Ahh! Had I known about macaron day I would have booked my trip to Paris earlier (although I'm not sure I love them yet... only tried them once and they weren't real Parisian macarons, wasn't exactly floored but I'm sure it'll be a different matter when I try the real deal). I'm going to Paris in May, if I'm able to go again next year I'll have to plan my trip around macaron day and hopefully score a whole box of them like you! Champ!

Why do you do this to us?! I've only had two macarons in my entire life, and they weren't made in France. I loved them anyway. I want to eat a whole dozen, especially if they are made in France. The pictures you post are driving me mad, mad, mad! Maybe I should go see Alice in Wonderland.

That lucky duck of a cute bear! Now this is a marathon I could train for. I wonder, no....I don't think this race for the macarons could bring on the crowds the way it seems to in this dear city. It is a definite part of the charm....and cheezily I am so proud of you for winning, giving, and getting your hands on such superlative goodies! Well done Bear and helper.

I am so jealous of this trip of yours. I love that you won the Jour de Macarons! Good for you—even though it sounds like it was a pain to jump on and off the Metro all day.And look at those French girls. I want to be one in my next life.

Wow...what a marvelous day scurrying around Paris with you and Bear, CarolIt was raining all day here in Philly, & I thought I wouldn't get out for my usual fast-paced 2 mile walk. But then I opened your post,and we were off and running!Thanks for the fun way to get my daily exercise...kinda'Bill

Carol I spent the afternoon of Jour de macaron at a fabulous class at La Cuisine in Paris learning how to make macaron. It was my first trip to Paris and your blog really helped me prepare. I was really surprised when I met Jimmy Kimmel under the Eiffel Tower